18 student-athletes receive St. Thomas Aquinas medals
Lee McGinnis earns Outstanding Faculty Member Award
2015 Saint Thomas Aquinas Medalists: FRONT ROW (l-r) - Michelle Vonick, Cassandra McGill, Erika Isner, Mary-Cate Catton, Amy Pelletier, Danielle Franchi, Sarah Morse. BACK: Christian Baglini, Richard Aprile, Jared Drzal, Nick Kirkpatrick, Trisha Pierson, Megan Ruonavaara, Stephen Balsamo, Tyler O'Donnell, Jimmy Walsh. NOT SHOWN: Analise Kump & Erin Rielly (PHOTO BY Lewis Glass/SportsPix) |
Associate Professor of Marketing Lee McGinnis receives the Outstanding Faculty Member award from senior Kayleigh McDonnell. (PHOTO BY Lewis Glass/SportsPix) |
EASTON, Mass. (April 13, 2015) - Stonehill College held its annual Academic Excellence Recognition Breakfast at Alumni Hall on Friday. The event is the signature event for the College in recognition of National Student-Athlete Week as administrators, faculty and athletic staff presented St. Thomas Aquinas medals as well as its Outstanding Faculty Member Award.
The event honors student-athletes from Stonehill’s 20 varsity programs who have the highest cumulative grade point average on their respective teams through the Fall 2014 semester. Those students are presented with St. Thomas Aquinas, Patron Saint of Students, Medals. Of the 18 medal recipients, ten are repeat honorees, with seniors Amy Pelletier (Beverly, Massachusetts/Bishop Fenwick) and Christian Baglini (Milford, Connecticut/Notre Dame), from the women’s basketball and baseball programs, respectively, finishing their career by being honored at their third breakfast.
In addition, senior Kayleigh McDonnell (Rutland, Vermont/Rutland), chairperson of Stonehill's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, presented the athletic department's Outstanding Faculty Member Award to Lee McGinnis, Associate Professor of Marketing, who is in his fifth year at Stonehill.
Earning St. Thomas Aquinas Medals were:
Richard Aprile (Carmel, New York/Kennedy Catholic), Junior, Men’s Soccer
Christian Baglini (Milford, Connecticut/Notre Dame), Senior, Baseball***
Stephen Balsamo (Atkinson, New Hampshire/Brewster Academy), Senior, Ice Hockey
Mary-Kate Catton (San Diego, California/Academy of Our Lady of Peace), Senior, Volleyball**
Jared Drzal (West Sayville, New York/Sayville), Senior, Men’s Tennis
Erika Isner (Farmington, New York/Farmington), Sophomore, Women’s Lacrosse
Danielle Franchi (Islip, N.Y./Islip), Senior, Equestrian**
Nick Kirkpatrick (Carmel, Ind./Brebeuf Jesuit Prep), Junior, Men’s Cross Country/Track & Field**
Analise Kump (Falmouth, Maine/Falmouth), Junior, Women’s Tennis**
Cassandra McGill (Westbough, Massachusetts/Westborough), Senior, Women’s Lacrosse**
Sarah Morse (Westminster, Massachusetts/Oakmont Regional), Sophomore, Field Hockey
Tyler O’Donnell (Seaford, New York/Seaford), Sophomore, Football
Amy Pelletier (Beverly, Massachusetts/Bishop Fenwick), Senior, Women’s Basketball***
Trisha Pierson (East Hanover, New Jersey/Hanover Park), Junior, Women’s Track & Field**
Erin Rielly (Burlington, Massachusetts/Burlington), Senior, Women’s Cross Country
Megan Ruonavaara (Rocky Hill, Connecticut/Rocky Hill), Junior, Softball**
Michelle Vonick (Boulder, Colorado/Fairview), Sophomore, Women’s Soccer
Jimmy Walsh (Manasquan, New Jersey/Manasquan), Sophomore, Men’s Basketball
Number of years honored marked with asterisks